As a result of the partitions of the Polish state in 1772, Wadowice found itself under Austrian rule for the next 146 years. Until the turn of the 19th century, it was a town with predominantly wooden buildings and a population of ca. 1.000. Most of the inhabitants were employed nin agriculture, or, less commonly, in crafts or trade. The position of Wadowice, located away from the major transport routes, changed in the 19th century due to the building of the Lviv-Vienna trunk road. This development made the town by the River Skawa an important traffic hub and strategic location on the map of Galicia. In 1819, a seat of administration covering a large area was moved here and soon afterwards a military garrison was located in the town, as well as the district court and a Gymnasium. Those events added new administrative, military and educational functions to the town, which contributed to the increase of its prestige and rank as well as to an economic boom. The Galician times were also marked by a growth in the social activity of the town’s inhabitants. At the turn of the 20th century a significant number of associations were established here affecting the cultural and academic life. The processes taking place in the 19th century led to the transformation of Wadowice into a modern European city.